Massa defends radio instructions in F1

Felipe Massa has defended the radio instructions given to today's formula one drivers.

As the sport analyses what is turning off fans, some are arguing that the sport should push ahead with its plans to further limit the exchange of information between the pitwall and the supposed 'heroes' at the racing wheel.

But veteran Massa insists little has changed over the years, except that the radio transmissions are now aired publicly on television.

"When before nothing was heard (on television)," he told UOL Esporte, "it was exactly the same.

"The things that the drivers asked and the way the team works with the driver was not much different," the Williams driver insisted.

"Since last year" when the 'power unit' era began, Massa continued, "there is a lot of technical information now, but other than that nothing has changed.

"People are saying it is easier now with all of this (information), but the only thing different is that those on the outside have more information about what is really going on."

As an example, he referred to Fernando Alonso's tetchy exchange with his engineer recently, when the Spaniard protested an order to save fuel rather than race.

"This (sort of thing) also happened before," Massa insisted, "it was just not heard."